Keystone Bank’s MD resigns

THE Managing Director of Keystone Bank, Mr Oti Ikomi has resigned. The bank said his exit yesterday, was based on personal reasons.

In a four-paragraph statement, the bank explained that Ikomi, a seasoned professional banker with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades, was appointed chief executive officer of the bank in August 2011, adding that the Chairman of Keystone Bank, Moyo Ajekigbe, has convened a meeting for today, to review the development and appoint a successor.

The Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), owners of the bank, Mr Mustafa Chike-Obi, when contacted, said the decision as to who and when a successor would be named, rests squarely with the Board of Directors of the bank. He told The Nation that the bank has a competent board to decide and appoint a successor to Mr Ikomi, saying it would be in appropriate for him to offer further comments when he has not been briefed by the board.

He said: “In a week or two after hearing from the Board, I should be able to comment,” adding, “it will be inappropriate for me to comment at this moment.

Although no member of staff was willing to offer any explanation as to the turn of events, a source who asked that his identity be veiled, said the development is a fallout of internal boardroom squabbles.

Ikomi was upbeat yesterday few hours before the news about his resignation broke, a staff member told The Nation. “He sent an internal memo to the workers, late Thursday, saying , he is leaving to pursue other interests. An hour before he sent the memo, he was upbeat and within 30 minutes, we just saw that he was on his way out,” he added.

He said there was a board meeting the previous day,” but there was no indication that anything like this was in the offing,” he stated. He said the workers will miss him, adding that Keystone has been the only bank among the three bridged banks that has not sacked any staff, rather the bank has embarked on promotion and training of staff.

He said: “Everybody has gone on training. It has never happened in five years. The mood here is very sad, and those at the board meeting are running away from everybody, so we don’t really know what went wrong,” another member of staff, added.